RHLCC BBQ FUNDRAISER AUGUST 19th
Richmond Hill Liberty Cricket Club (RHLCC) came up short in the Eastern American Cricket Association 40-Overs final against Everest/ACS (E/ACS). Jeetendra Sookdeo crafted a master class century to captivate fans in E/ACS’ chase of 241 in an exciting encounter worthy of a league final. Wahid Ward was once again the leading RHLCC batsman with a brilliant knock of 80 when his team bat first. A knock which was eclipsed by Sookdeo’s inning as the RHLCC attack had no answer for the stylish left hander.
E/ACS captain Terry Hastoo won the toss in brilliant batting conditions; low 80 deg F temperatures and clear skies, a true Bailey Cage wicket and a flatly trimmed outfield. The experienced captain trustingly asked RHLCC to take first strike. Christopher VanTull was scalped early for 5 before Dominique Rikhi and Nadesh Basdeo partnered for 50 before Basdeo departed for 17.
Ward joined Rikhi and the pair moved the score into the 90’s when the 15 over water break was takne. Rikhi capitalizing off an early life struck 4 boundaries and a maximum before the break. The elegant right hander started off after the break with a classic cover drive for four. Two balls later on 47, however, he would cut one straight to backward point to leave his team at 103 for 3 in the 17th over. Trevor Henry followed shortly after for 8, 123 for 4.
Ward seeing the demise of two of the key batsmen in the inning got past his half century and was looking to take a stranglehold of the inning. Altaaf Habibulla partnered with Ward as he struck seven fours and six maximums. The veteran expertly picked off the E/ACS attack mixing sound defence with brutal power hitting. The partnership, the largest in the inning 62 runs, ended, however, when Ward mistimed a pull shot to long off falling for 80.
Trinson Carmichael came in at number seven and struck four 4’s and a maximum to add a quickfire 32 off 19 balls to help RHLCC boost the score up to the 241 posted. Bowling for E/ACS Terrence Madramootoo picked up 4 wickets for 65, Telston Johnson 2 for 13 while there was a wicket each for Zamin Amin, Deveshwari Prashad and Karan Ganesh.
RHLCC defense started in brilliant fashion with Carmichael scalping Johnson (0) off the second ball of the inning. Ward pulled off easily a catch of the year diving full length to haul in a line drive at long-on to send Wasim Haslim (15) back to the shed. Ward, appearing to not being capable of any wrong in the day, came into the attack and removed Amarnauth Persaud (27) in the 13th over with his 3rd ball. With the score on 72 for 3, Sookdeo was quietly getting himself settled in.
Karan Ganesh fell shortly after the water break with the chase on 103 for 4. Sookdeo locked in with his team in a spot of bother at this stage. He picked off the bad balls on offer getting past his half-century. Prashad (15) partnered with Sookdeo for 37 before he held out to long-off.
With the game hanging in a balance and E/ACS needing 101 runs off 99 balls RHLCC lost its course and allowed Sookdeo to break free in a partnership with Madramootoo. The pair added 71 in just 7.5 overs before Madramootoo was dismissed. Sookdeo dominated the partnership including taking 28 off one of the overs and racing into his 90’s by the time Madramootoo (24) was dismissed.
With no other wickets falling Sookdeo quickly wrapped up the chase getting past his century and finishing on 115 not out. He stroked 9 boundaries and hammed 8 maximums in his inning. Fittingly he guided a single to bring home the victory and handing his team a well deserved championship.
The RHLCC bowling, outside of Carmichael’s 2 wickets for 24 runs off 8 overs failed to deliver on the big stage of the final. Rikhi, Jamiel Jackman, Ward and Basdeo picked up one wicket each in the defense.
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